Enquiries are ongoing into a"‘great irregularity" in the Ammanford school stabbing trial which caused the jury in the attempted murder case to be discharged without delivering a verdict yesterday.

The trial had been ongoing since September 30 and on Tuesday, October 8, the jury retired to consider their verdict.

The 14-year-old Ysgol Dyffryn Aman pupil was arrested after she stabbed teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, and a fellow pupil, during morning break.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to having a knife on a school grounds and three offences of wounding with intent, but denied attempting to murder the three victims.

The jury was expected to deliver its verdict yesterday. However, yesterday morning ‘with the greatest reluctance’ His Honour Judge Paul Thomas KC discharged the jury without a verdict being given.

He said that "a great irregularity had compromised their ability to further consider this matter".

A retrial date has been set for January next year.

Judge Thomas asked one member of the jury to remain in the court building after the rest of them were dismissed.

He said yesterday afternoon that enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances that led to the jury being discharged.

“An irregularity occurred during the jury’s deliberations which led to the jury as a whole being discharged,” said Judge Thomas.

“Enquiries are being conducted about the circumstances which brought about this course.”

He added that no further information could be disclosed until enquiries were completed.

Yesterday Dyfed-Powys Police warned members of the public that it was illegal to name the teenager or to share material that could prejudice the case.

“We would like to remind people that the teenager accused of three counts of attempted murder cannot be named for legal reasons,” said a force spokesperson.

“We urge people not to speculate on the details of the case, nor to share footage or material which could prejudice the case or cause further distress to those involved.”